Antarctica Environment Protection

Antarctica Environment Protection in 2013

United States views on international law [1] in relation to Antarctica Environment Protection: A key priority for the United States in 2013 was the establishment of a new marine protected area (“MPA”) in Antarctica's Ross Sea. See this world legal encyclopedia (in relation to issues that took place in the year 2012) at 441, discussing the joint proposal of the United States and New Zealand to establish the Ross Sea MPA. The United States sent a delegation of government scientists and other officials to a special meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (“CCAMLR”), the organization with jurisdiction over marine conservation in the Southern Ocean, held in Bremerhaven, Germany, July 15-16, 2013. A key goal of the special meeting, only the second in CCAMLR's history, was to take action on the proposal by the U.S. and New Zealand to create a MPA in the Ross Sea region and a second proposal by other parties to create a MPA in the East Antarctica region. As stated in a July 15 State Department media note, the primary U.S. objective at the meeting was advancing the Ross Sea proposal. The media note, available at (Secretary of State website) state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2013/07/211908.htm, explains:

Some Aspects of Antarctica Environment Protection

The United States strongly supports the sustainable management of marine living resources, and urges members of the Commission to work with the United States and New Zealand to find consensus and take the historic step to protect this special marine ecosystem.

Developments

The Ross Sea Region is one of the last and greatest ocean wilderness areas on the planet. It is home to a unique and productive ecosystem that supports vast numbers of whales, penguins, seals and a vast range of marine life. With limited human impact to-date and a long history of scientific exploration and discovery, the Ross Sea Region is also a natural laboratory for scientific study to better understand climate change, our oceans, and our world.

Details

Unfortunately, the CCAMLR was unable to reach agreement on establishing marine protected areas, including in the Ross Sea, at its special meeting on July 16, 2013. Secretary Kerry's press statement on the failure to achieve this objective in July 2013 is available at (Secretary of State website) state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/07/212063.htm, and expresses hope for future opportunities:

There's simply no comprehensive effort to protect earth's most critical resource that doesn't include an equally comprehensive effort to create marine protected areas (MPAs). That's why the United States and New Zealand proposed the creation of these areas in the Ross Sea Region. A tremendous amount of work has gone into developing the science that underpins our joint proposal, and to leverage action, we'll be doubling down on sharing the findings of our scientists who spend those critical months in the dead of winter at McMurdo Station researching and understanding the realties that face all of us.

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This is a longtime passion of mine and it's an imperative for me as U.S. Secretary of State. I've seen firsthand how acidification, pollution, and sea level rise tear at the fabric of our economies, our communities, even our security. But this isn't just a personal priority. The Ross Sea is a natural laboratory. Its ecosystem is as diverse as it is productive, and we have a responsibility to protect it as environmental stewards—just as we do the rest of the ocean.

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President Obama has put climate change and environmental conservation on the front burner where it belongs, and we have a responsibility to keep it there. Yes, the road has been harder than we hoped. But I am pleased that so many countries were willing to work together towards this crucial objective. While they were not able to reach full agreement at this meeting to designate MPAs for Antarctica, they came close. The majority of CCAMLR members were able to find common ground. We didn't agree on all of the specifics, but there's an emerging consensus that the Antarctic region requires protection.

Antarctica Environment Protection in 2013 (Continuation)

United States views on international law [1] in relation to Antarctica Environment Protection: On October 16, 2013, foreign ministers of Australia, France, and New Zealand; the U.S. Secretary of State; and the Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Union issued a joint statement calling on CCAMLR to establish two new marine protected areas in Antarctica at its next session. The joint statement is available at (Secretary of State website) state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2013/10/215436.htm and includes the following:

More about Antarctica Environment Protection

The establishment of such MPAs follows through on the vision expressed by all nations at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002 and the Rio+20 conference in 2012.

Development

Since 2005, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (the Commission, CCAMLR) has worked to complete the necessary groundwork for the designation of MPAs in CCAMLR, including the establishment of a legal framework agreed by all Members and extensive scientific research.

Details

The Ross Sea and East Antarctica regions are widely recognized for their remarkable ecological and scientific importance. The MPA proposals now before the Commission are based on sound and best available science, will provide a unique laboratory for continuation of marine research, and will have profound and lasting benefits for ocean conservation, including sustainable use of its resources.

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We call on all Members of the Commission to bring years of preparation to a successful conclusion by establishing these important, science-based MPAs at the next session of the Commission in October 2013 in Hobart, Australia.

Resources

Notes

1. Antarctica Environment Protection in the Digest of United States Practice in International Law

Resources

Notes

1. Antarctica Environment Protection in the Digest of United States Practice in International Law